Social Security (Jobseeker Support and Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Bill

Summary

• The Salvation Army (Te Ope Whakaora) strongly opposes the policy changes implemented through this Bill. These changes add complexity to the income support system and do not address root causes of youth unemployment and unaffordable housing.
• Introducing a combined parental assistance test for 18 and 19-year-olds applying for Jobseeker support means more than 4,000 young people may be excluded from Jobseeker income support as well as support to find employment. We urge the government not to proceed with this change.
• Increasing the entry threshold for access to Accommodation Supplement (AS) support for homeowners from 30 percent to 40 percent will add further hardship to lower- and middle-income households just at the time when cost of living pressures are high. We urge the government not to proceed with this change.